Paintings With Soul

In October 2006 I started my daily painting commitment. Somehow you found out about it, signed up for the newsletter or hooked the blog into your feed and are here today, following along. I am thankful for your attention, your encouragement, your honest criticisms, and your friendship. You have kept me going strong over the years and you have enabled me to be a better artist every single day. I wish I could give all of 5000 or so of you a hearty slice of fudge pecan pie with a generous dollop of hhhh-whip cream (that's how we roll in the Santini household, with lots of hhhh-whip). I'll enjoy a piece on your behalf. Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

It's been a couple years since I shared my palette system and paint choices, so I figured it was time for an update! Above is a recent photo of a setup from a demo done this fall. The paints have puddled together a little bit due to the car ride/transport, but I think you can get the idea. Pure pigment on the edges, mixtures in the center. And the mixtures are further lumped into a yellow-ish area, an orange-ish area, etc. This helps me keep mixtures clean and bright (if that is what I want!) You'll also see how I mix one mother-puddle and push and pull that into various combinations. I also arrange with lightest values on the left and darkest on the right. My paints always go in the same place and I always use the same colors. This is a Stay-Wet Masterson Palette and I'm using exclusively Golden Heavy Body Acrylics. My colors: Titanium White Naples Yellow Cadmium Yellow Light Cadmium Yellow Medium Cadmium Yellow D...

Excuse me? for real? it's December?  To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!)....

    "Man's Best Friend," 8" x 10," commissioned portrait, acrylics on a museum quality panel, a special gift for a special guy - you're in on the secret, so if you recognize either of these fellows, mum's the word. Plenty of i n process photos are here . Want one for yourself? Inquiries may come to me .     This is my second commissioned figural portrait. I'm just delighted with how this has turned out - and fingers and toes crossed my client is too!   Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Ollie," 8" x 8," commissioned portrait of a German Shepherd, acrylics on a museum quality panel, a special gift for Ollie's little girl. Plenty of  in process photos are here . Want one for yourself? Inquiries may come  to me . I've been studying in-process images by master painters, and the one thing I noticed (light bulb moment here!) was that they paint entirely with planes. There is very little delineation happening - their subjects are sculpted with paint. So that was the approach I took with Ollie. No lines or drawing - just slabs of color going down. I rather like the effect. Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like me to come teach in your neck of the woods, shoot me an email and we can talk about it! Thank so much! Kim Santini

"Rory," 12" x 16," commissioned portrait of a Black Labradoodle with The Best Eyebrows Ever, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Plenty of in process photos are here, including closeups of his eye and nose along with a shot of my palette. Rory has a home, but there's plenty of other paintings in my head (and studio) that do not - inquiries may come to me . Although this photo is a little flat and gray because I had to shoot it under artificial lighting, my boss is somewhat happier about my productivity today. Let's see what my client has to say, though - I'm awaiting final approval. And permission to punch out and head home.  Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Updo," 6" x 7," acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tousled-hair Barbie. Inquiries may come to me . Today was supposed to be spent finishing up a commission, but that didn't play out. Which makes two days in a row that my days have not gone as planned. But who's counting, right? I'll tell you who - my boss. She's certifiable. So with limited time to paint today, I decided to finish this little Barbie piece started last nite after everyone went to bed. (And I DON'T get paid overtime, just for the record) So who's putting money on how tomorrow goes? I'm not holding my breath, but I AM lighting a candle for my muse to be uninterrupted. And be highly productive. Or else I'm fired. Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Rose" 8" x 10," acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a sleepy-eyed Nancy Ann Story Book doll (does anyone know this doll's original name?). In process photos can be viewed here . Inquiries may come to me . Today didn't go as expected. Kids home (no power at school) and bouncing emails were just a couple of the surprises. (And for those of you in the path of last nite's storms, I hope you have a warm place to stay and all your loved ones are accounted for.)  I rolled with the punches, did lots of yoga breathing, put out all my fires, and found myself mid-afternoon with some time at the easel. I could have worked on a commission, but didn't trust the fates to leave me alone. So I chose a little doll who seemed to match my pensive mood. Here's hoping tomorrow is not a repeat of today! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," now available from Blurb publishers. When I first painted Amelia I never imagined that she would be re-christened "Blue" and inspire a book. In her defense, Amelia had a number of other partners in crime - animals who's portraits seemed to fall into a specific color category and prompt color-centric names. In typical ADD fashion, my brain started spinning 100mph. What if I turned those muses' paintings into a picture book for animal loving kids? I shared my idea with three friends in the industry, and they eagerly offered their expertise. I am truly indebted to them. Illustrator and author Matt Faulkner and children's book author and literacy expert Kristen Remenar edited an early version of the draft. They suggested key plot/conceptual changes that made it oodles better. Designer Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson worked her magic, pairing the images with perfectly color...

"Poppy," 8" x 12", acrylics on a museum quality panel, gorgeously framed and well-traveled. Poppy's been displayed in exhibitions around the country, and has recently returned to the studio. She's ready for a home - inquiries may come to me . Today there's a Christmas gift on my easel, and I can't share because the recipient is a fan and follower. I have just a few pre-holiday spots left. So speak up now if you want to gift an actual painting - once my calendar is full, I'll be offering gift certificates through the end of the year. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Tennis Ball I," 4" square, acrylics on a museum quality panel, currently at auction on my Facebook page with proceeds going to the Oakland Pet Adoption Center . Click through on the image to bid. And thanks for supporting homeless pets. The above was my warm up painting - then I indulged and painted for myself. So what do you think of this doll? is she a little more vulnerable and a little less creepy? "Pout (Cindy)," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, painted from life, a 1950's Cindy Horsman doll. Inquiries may come to me . Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Lucky," 5" x 7," acrylics on a museum quality panel, commissioned portrait featuring a terrier-chihuahua mixed breed, private collection (THANK YOU!). In process photos can be viewed here . Inquiries may come to me . Lucky was found on the side of the road 16 years ago. Since then he has fully enjoyed life, hiking mountains, playing tug-of-war, waiting by the door for his kids to come home from school, snuggling and watching tv, digging up carrots from the garden and chasing squirrels. His family is readying to say goodbye and relishing the days they have left together. It was my honor to paint him before his final journey. Travel safely, my friend. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Calvin, Sketch," image approximately 6" x 6" on a 9" x 12" bristol board, acrylics, featuring a sassy Weimereiner pup, private collection (THANK YOU!). In September I pledged painted sketches to fans making a $75 contribution to an ALS walk in honor of a family friend. Calvin's is the first of these portraits. I took extra special pleasure in painting him, layering marks and color and detail in appreciation of his Mom's support of a cause close to our hearts. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," a labor of love the last couple years.     "A Dog Named Blue," my first children's book, will be available for holiday gift giving. This year.   Some of my fondest memories are of reading with my kids, and this book was designed for just that - snuggling in with your little one and learning the names of colors. Together. I'm finishing up the last bit of editorial revisions, choosing paper quality, and determining binding options.   I'm very excited to share this book with you!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   About Kimberly Santini